[Changeling: The Lost] Primer: Changelings

Out of Character (OOC):

Chronicle: Mage 2: The Dethroned Queen
Venue: Mage: The Awakening 2nd Edition
Chronicle Storyteller: Jerad Sayler

Assistant Storytellers: Hannah Nyland & Alex Van Belkum

Primer: Changelings - Escapees from Arcadia

Changelings, also known as the Lost, are humans who were abducted by the Fae. Unlike most who suffer this fate, the Lost have managed to find their way back through the Hedge to the mortal world, but their time in the Faerie realm (Arcadia) has irrevocably changed their bodies, minds and souls. A Changeling's true, inhuman mien is hidden by his Mask, the aspect of Fae magic that makes Faerie creatures and artefacts seem mundane to mortal eyes. Very few Changelings are able to reclaim their old lives, or make entirely new ones without retaining ties to the fae realm.

While every Changeling is unique, those who have shared similar experiences in Faerie notice similarities in the physical changes they have undergone. These loose categorizations are referred to as Seemings. Within each Seeming are more specific groupings called Kiths.

Changelings find themselves alienated from normal mortals, as they are no longer mortal themselves. They therefore often congregate into small groups, sometimes called motleys. More formally, they make use of ancient pacts made by the Fae with the seasons (at least in Europe; in other places there are Courts aligned with other things of similar symbolic power, like the cardinal directions or the sun and the moon). They align themselves into seasonal Courts which offer them some measure of protection against the True Fae. Each Court has supernatural influence over a strong emotion and the physical aspects associated with their season.

Effects of Being a Changeling

The Mask:

Ordinary humans cannot see changelings for what they are. All things fae, including changelings, are protected by the Mask, an illusion that makes them appear to be mundane versions of themselves. Only the fae, such as changelings, can see through the Mask; all others see a hulking man instead of an Ogre, a bent old woman instead of a goblin crone. The fae can also ensorcell humans, granting them the temporary ability to see through the Mask.

Glamour:

Changelings have a trait called Glamour. It is the power that fuels all the wondrous and terrible miracles of Faerie. In game terms, it is a measure of how much magical energy is within each changeling. Glamour can be used to fuel Contracts as well as the following inherent powers.

Though there are numerous ways for changelings to regain Glamour but most commonly they regain Glamour by harvesting the emotions of mortals. To do this, a changeling simply must find a human who is experiencing strong emotions and attempt to leech some of that energy. Both “positive” and “negative” emotions can potentially provide Glamour; the strength of the emotion is what truly matters, not the type. Exactly what kind of roll is required to gain Glamour in this fashion depends on the action or situation taken to obtain. For example, an Ogre who wishes to get a quick rush of fear might pick up a hapless victim and slam him against a wall; a Spring Court club kid might entice a naïve young thing to join him for a bit of lustful fun in a darkened corner; and a retiring Darkling might soak up the sorrow of a funeral home while maintaining the pretense of a grieving relative. The emotions they feed on correspond to the Court which they are blessed.

Cold Iron:

Those who know the secrets of the fae tell a curious tale about the Fair Folk’s weakness to cold iron. Long ago, a powerful True Fae made a Contract with iron itself, but that Fae failed to honor the terms of the contract. Thereafter, iron swore itself as an enemy to the prodigal people, cold and unyielding in its grudge against them. This elemental animosity passed down to the changelings, as well. In effect, an item made from at least 90 percent pure, unalloyed iron ignores defenses contrived by the fae and their magics. A protection Contract will not offer any safety from an iron weapon, for example. A changeling wearing fae armor will feel a cold iron knife pass into his flesh, as the armor fails to protect him. This weakness extends further where the True Fae are concerned. While any sort of iron will pierce their magical defenses, it is important to note that on cold-forged iron, iron shaped without the benefit of a forge, inflicts even more egregious wounds.

Clarity:

A changeling is no longer human, but neither are they fully fae. Upon returning to Earth, most changelings find themselves walking a fine line between two worlds. They cannot deny what they have become, but at the same time it is their strong connection to this world that allowed them to return, and they feel a need to identify with and be accepted by the world around them. Clarity is what they call this delicate balance between the mundane world and the maddening realms of Glamour. A changeling with higher Clarity is able to easily distinguish between the two worlds and might even become slightly more adept at spotting supernatural phenomena otherwise hidden from view. By contrast, a changeling with lower Clarity finds her perceptions spiraling out of control. She starts having trouble distinguishing her dreams from reality, and starts mixing up elements from the two worlds. Changelings with falling Clarity find a way to cope with their loss of perspective, and allow themselves to drift further out of touch.  Changelings who cannot keep the balance risk becoming unhinged mentally.